First Baptist Communiqué

First Baptist Communiqué Volume 234 St. Johns, Michigan October 2014 October Events Our theme for Local Evangelism Month is: Let Your Light Shine & Get Your Hands Dirty. Theme Verse - Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Sunday, October 5th Pastor Tim - AM & Services Communion - Sunday, October 12th Pastor Chad - AM & Services Wednesday, October 15th Quarterly Business & Prayer Meeting 6:30 Sunday, October 19th Missionary Christmas Offering - All Day Pastor Ron - AM Service Beacon of Hope Presentation, Karen Leif - Service Sunday, October 26th Pastor Chad - AM Service Baptism/Membership - Service

Missionary Christmas Offering Every year we take an offering to give to our missionaries as a Christmas gift. The money collected will be divided equally among our supported missionaries to encourage them during the Christmas season. A gift-wrapped box will be at the Information Area Sunday, October 19th, for you to give your gift. Reminder: This is a non-taxable gift and cannot be claimed on your income tax. 2015 Church Phone Directories The directories will be available on Sunday, October 26th. Reminder: One per family. Young adults still living at home may have a copy also. UPCOMING CHURCH ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR Be sure to mark your calendars. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 Thanksgiving Praise Service -- Evening Service WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26 No Wednesday Evening Activities SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 Special Night of Christmas Music -- Evening Service SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 Sunday School Christmas Program -- Evening Service Please note: The S.S. Christmas Program Practice will be Saturday, Dec. 13th, 9-11AM. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 AM Service No Sunday School & No Evening Service If you have an Amazon Account you can donate to our Church with every purchase you make by signing up for AmazonSmile. It is the same as your regular Amazon Account except that Amazon donates a percentage of everything you order on AmazonSmile to First Baptist Church if you designate us as your charity. To sign up, simply go to smile.amazon.com and choose First Baptist Church of St. Johns, MI as your charitable organization. The money contributed will be used for special projects and the deacon s fund. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 Candlelight Christmas Eve Service -- 6 (Communion) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 AM Service No Sunday School & No Evening Service

Beacon of Hope Update Beacon of Hope Presentation On Sunday, October 19 in the P.M. Service there will be a presentation on the Beacon of Hope ministry. This is a good opportunity to learn more about Beacon and ways that you can serve the Lord through the ministry. Volunteers Needed Beacon needs volunteers to work in the Learn & Earn store and also the food pantry on Tuesday evenings when Beacon is open. Older teens are welcome for these jobs. You decide how many times a month you want to work. Thinking ahead to Christmas Beacon of Hope will once again offer a Shopping Day for participants to spend their credits on Christmas gifts. If you like to browse the clearance racks, keep a lookout for these items: bedding (including pillows), pots & pans, baking pans, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, crock pots, toys, and items for teens like curling/flat irons, sports equipment, and ear buds. Donating to other organizations There are times when the Beacon storage area is filled to capacity and cannot accept donations of large amounts of items. In that case you might want to consider donating used items to St. Vincent De Paul. Their store is located in Southpoint Mall and is open Monday through Friday. The money made by selling items goes directly to those in need in our community it DOES NOT go to the Catholic Church. Last year St. Vincent distributed over $100,000 to residents of Clinton County. Beacon often refers participants to St. Vincent s for help with evictions or utility shut-offs. Senior Saints We had 15 folks travel to Israel in September. Each were greeted with a costume and a traditional Shalom greeting. Following a feast of lamb and rice we traveled -via DVD-to Israel and learned more about Yom Kippur and the Feast of Tabernacles. On October 14 we will meet at Melvin & Beverly Crowell s home (3635 S. Shepardsville Road, St. Johns) 11 AM (Note time change) for a Country Breakfast and tour of the working sawmill. Everything will be furnished so RESERVATIONS are IMPORTANT! Sign up today at the Information Area in the foyer. November will find us at Big Boy for noon lunch and December is our annual Christmas luncheon at Jade Garden. Our church will once again collect shoeboxes for Samaritan s Purse. Watch the foyer to pick up your brochure(s) and box(es). It gives instructions as well as great ideas for your shoeboxes. Be sure to include $7.00 with each box and use the labels on the brochure to show if it is for a boy or girl. National Collection of the boxes will be November 17-24. If you would like the church to deliver your box(es), place your box in the Kitchen-office level or Stepping Stones Classroom-lower level. The deadline for turning in your shoebox(es) is Sunday, November 16th. To deliver your box(es) to a collection site, go to the website: http:// www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmaschild/drop-off-locations/ after October 1, to find a drop off site and times they are open.

BY THE WAY, WHAT IS OUR POLICY ON... First Baptist Church Policy on Marriage and Human Sexuality If you haven t done so, we encourage you to pick up a copy of the First Baptist Church Policy on Marriage and Human Sexuality. Copies are available in the church foyer or from the church office. Pastor Tim explained the new policy on Sunday evening, August 24th. You can request a CD of his explanation from the church office. REQUESTING NURSERY/TODDLER CHRISTMAS EVE WORKERS The next Communiqué will be a combined newsletter for November and December. So, shocking as it seems, it is not too early to begin thinking about Christmas. Please consider the gift of your time and service as a nursery/toddler volunteer during our Christmas Eve church service. Please call Sarah Thomas by October 15th. Released Time Class Released Time Class with Debbie Price (Rural Bible Mission) will be starting again in October. The class for the town students meets at our church on the third Friday of each month. If you live out of town, they do have classes at the country schools. Please call your school to find out the times. There will be registration forms on the Communications Table for you to fill out and give to your school. It also explains what released time is all about. Home school children are welcome as well, just fill out the permission slip and give it to Debbie Price. The first meeting will be Friday, October 24th, at 1:00pm. Thank You Notes Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, The family of Norine Wisner would like to say Thank You for your prayers and cards of sympathy since mom s passing. Thank you also for the Gideon Bibles donated in her memory. In Christian Love, Paul & RuthAnn Halstead & Family New Location for Mailbox Club Mailbox The mailbox for dropping off Mailbox Club lessons has been relocated. It is now mounted on the wall in the area between the Children s Wing doorway and John Kresge s classroom. The Mailbox Club is a Christian ministry that provides age-appropriate Bible lessons through mail correspondence. Enrollment is open for anyone 4 years old through adult. If you are interested in getting started in the program, you can complete one of the blank forms stored in the mailbox or contact Sarah Thomas.

MISSIONS UPDATE: BUSY HANDS FOR MISSIONS On September 2nd five ladies met and we made three pillowcase dresses to be sent to Rachel Buser and started working on aprons for Rowena Barnes. We hope to make tote bags and baby blankets for Rowena as well. We can use your help on October 7th at 9:30 AM. You don t have to be able to sew, we ll find a job for you. Hope to see you there. In His service, Dee Chapman MAILINGS IN SEPTEMBER Birthday greetings were mailed to two of our men in Sept. (We ask for suggestions as they aren t as delighted to get a new dish towel and a candle) George Collins was mailed $20 to put towards a book he wanted from Amazon. Steve Mayo was interested in having the book Center Church by Timothy Keller. This was purchased and mailed to him along with handkerchiefs, candle for Sue, body cream and dish towels to use for packing. We missed Sue s birthday so this was a great opportunity to remember her as well. A Birthday box was mailed to Peggy Marsh. Her kitchen is blue so a blue and white dish towel, two small candles, (one Christmas and one without a label) and some bath products will brighten her day. MISSIONS CLOSET Nathan and Rachel Eastman, who were visiting missionaries on their way to France to work with the Basque peoples, and their six children presented their work. A backpack full of travel supplies for their children and lunch was ready for them after the service. They have their visa s and should be on their way. Rachel wrote: I just wanted to say thank you for all the goodies you gave us. It was way more than I expected and very generous and thoughtful. What a special treat for the children as well. Thanks for being a blessing and encouragement to our family. Love In Christ. Glen and Jenny Reava and family were here to share with the church and they found dish towels, dish cloths, pot holders and items such as toothpaste, deodorant, and hand creams. THANK YOU S From Ruth Scheltema: I received your package with all the goodies. How I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I have already lighted the vanilla candle - yummy aroma! The notes I can use when I write notes to bereaved loved ones of Hospice patients. Thank you for remembering me. I am totally enjoying A Way Beyond Death. I recognize or have been in many of the places mentioned. It is renewing my burden to pray for the many yet unreached Indians in the Amazon. Pray for me as I am editing and improving Hank s Story which includes his attempt to reach the Mayorunas. Praise God, that when Brazil closed off that territory for an Indian reservation, the Wycliffe s ladies (with whom we tried to reach the Mayorunas) have been successful in their ministry to the Peruvian Mayorunas.Thank you so much for sending me the book. Love to you and those who helped with the gifts. From Shelly Schafer: We got your package, and I have to tell you all that candy (laughy taffy and nerd strings) were the biggest hit in that package! The kids just went crazy!!! Here s a picture of Hali, she grabbed them all and said, can we have all these for snack today!! Everything else was awesome. Thank you for all your work and gathering everything and mailing it! It is always a blessing to receive the things we need and want. Love ya and thanks again. The above thank you notes are to all of you as you supply the funds to mail and the items for the missions closet that goes into the gifts and mailings. NEW ROOM FOR MISSIONS CLOSET We re looking forward to having a Missionary Closet Place in which to store special items. It is the former Awana storage room. If anyone is interested in helping prepare the room, please contact Diana VanOrsdol. Possible jobs are: paint, have carpet for the floor and install it, move the light switch, etc. NEEDS AND THINGS TO COLLECT We are out of crocheted dish cloths, the ladies favorite thing. Dish towels are always appreciated. We also need old jewelry, ladies handkerchiefs, cancelled commemorative stamps, children s magazines. Thank you to those who brought in ladies bath products and Tupperware Modulars.

Missionaries of the Month Glenn & Becky Kerr Home address: Ministry: Bible translation 936 Ardmore St. SE Becky: 6/14/51 Grand Rapids, MI 49507 Glenn: 11/05/49 Phone: 616.241.1068 Married: 7/06/74 Email: bkerr@biblesint.org and gkerr@biblesint.org Children: Aaron: married to Jen gkerr@biblesint.org Joel: married to Emily Mission Agency: Bibles International Rachel: married to Josh Piland Becky grew up in northern Minnesota in a Christian family. She became a Christian at age seven while her mom was reading her a missionary story. She used her gifts in music in the mission church they were a part of and was baptized there. She attended one year at Bethel College and transferred to Bob Jones University, where she met Glenn. Glenn s parents were not Christians when they married near Jackson, Michigan. When they moved to New Jersey they started attending a Presbyterian church and six months later put their faith in Christ. Glenn received the Lord at age three. After Glenn s junior year of high school he told the Lord he would be willing to do with his life whatever the Lord wanted. He majored in music, minored in German, and also studied Greek. After Glenn and Becky married, he pastored in Spartanburg and Simpsonville, South Carolina. In 1978 they moved to Wisconsin where Glenn received a master s degree in Hebrew & Semitic Studies at the University of Wisconsin. They both were committed to missions in their younger years; however, the Lord continued to say not now. After 17 years of marriage they moved to Michigan where they began work with Bibles International. Bible translation has been their vision and desire and what they have prepared for since their teen years. Becky produces the BI quarterly newsletter, Briefings. She is involved with all forms of literature production, designing brochures for projects, works in planning and carrying out the Harvest Dinner with the Stewardship Department, and she sometimes travels with Glenn. Glenn s work includes producing tools to use in translation work, helping translators, and helping those checking translations. BI has many projects going on throughout the world. Glenn is involved in the professional development of each consultant, making sure they have the tools they need to do their job, as well as appropriate computer and software training. Glenn holds several workshops each year. He works with the teams who check particular texts of current Bible translation projects. They go through the work verse by verse, checking it for accuracy against the original language. This includes lots of travel to distant places, mostly in French-speaking Africa but also to countries in Asia, South America, and even Europe. Bibles International has been blessed to publish New Testaments and complete Bibles for many people groups and is constantly taking on new projects once others are finished.

Food for Thought A Challenge to be Thinking Christians Why Making Decisions Is So Hard by Tim Challies Tim Challies is an author, blogger, book reviewer (he reviews books for WORLD Magazine) and serves as a pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto, Ontario, focusing on mentoring and discipleship. Making decisions is one of the most difficult things we do. If it is that hard to choose between the mint chocolate chip and the rocky road, how much more do we agonize over this church or that church, this school or that school, this job or that job, this person or that person? We pray, we sweat, we weep, we read, we toss, we turn. Why this fear? Why this agony? Why these sleepless nights? It is the uncertainty of it, I m sure. It is the uncertainty of where our choices may lead. When it comes to making decisions, we have this desire to protect ourselves from the wrong decisions or, more properly, from the consequences of the wrong decisions. I don t want to make an educational choice that imperils my child s soul; I don t want to make a dating choice that leads me to marital misery; I don t want to make a vocational choice that leads me to unemployment. I don t I don t want to be unhappy, and want to ensure that my choices don t lead me there. What I really want when I make a decision is to see the future. I don t only want to see the options before me, but the result of each of those options. If I could gaze into the future and see my child as a growing, thriving, Christ-honoring adult, it would make choosing this school that much easier. If I could gaze into the future and see myself hand-in-hand with that woman sixty years from now, I would know that she will make a fine choice for a wife. If I could only see the end, I would know. If only I had access to the future. But the thing we want is a thing God does not give us. He is far too wise for that, and does not give us that view of the finish line, that sneak peak of the future. He could, of course. After all, he is the one who declares, the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose (Isaiah 46:10). As the one who declares it and will bring it to pass, he is also the one who could display it in advance. But he doesn t. Instead, he does something far better: He gives us a view of himself. We don t need to know the future when we know the one who holds the future. God does not want us to put our hope in a future outcome, but in him. We don t ground our faith in a result, but in a Person. If we could see the future we would take our eyes off him. If we could see the future, our faith would be in the future. But when all we see is God, our trust must be in him. (Next Page)

(Food for Thought A Challenge to be Thinking Christians, Cont.) God doesn t comfort us by showing us the future, but by showing us himself. He shows himself as the all-powerful, all-knowing God who is for us, not against us. He shows himself as being far more committed to us than we are to him. He promises that he will never leave us nor forsake us, that he will work all things for good, that he will hold us firm to the end. He guarantees that he has purposes in this world and that nothing can change or interrupt or thwart them. He assures us that he will be glorified. He says, Don t look at the future, look at me! Decisions are difficult simply because we do not trust God with the results of our decisions. Decisions are difficult only because we are prone to misplace our comfort, to find our hope in a vision of the future more than in the one who holds the future. Your confidence in making decisions is directly related to your confidence in God himself.

CALENDAR Wed., October 1 AWANA -- 6:30pm (Childrens Wing) 24/7-Jr. High -- 6:30pm (Youth Wing) Prayer Meeting -- 6:30pm (Office Level-Classroom #1) Bible Institute Classes -- 6:30pm (Lower Level-Adult Classrooms) High School Bible Study -- 6:30pm (Youth Wing) Sun., October 5 Mon., October 6 Tues., October 7 Wed., October 8 Pastor Tim -- AM & Service Communion -- Service Men s Basketball -- 6:30pm (Gym) Shuffleboard -- 10:00 am (Gym) Busy Hands for Missions--9:30am (Lower Level-Around Corner from Elevator) Elders Meeting -- 9:30am (Conference Room) AWANA -- 6:30pm (Childrens Wing) 24/7-Jr. High -- 6:30pm (Youth Wing) Prayer Meeting -- 6:30pm (Office Level-Classroom #1) Bible Institute Classes -- 6:30pm (Lower Level-Adult Classrooms) High School Bible Study -- 6:30pm (Youth Wing) Thurs., October 9 Missions Committee Meeting -- 6:30 pm (Office Level-Classroom #2) Mentoring Moms -- 6:30 pm (Conference Room) Sun., October 12 Pastor Chad -- AM & Service World Missions Prayer Meeting -- After the Service (Lower Level-John Kresge s Classroom) Mon., October 13 Same As October 6 Tues., October 14 Wed., October 15 Thurs., October 16 Senior Saints Country Breakfast -- 11am (Melvin & Beverly Crowell s home) AWANA -- 6:30pm (Childrens Wing) 24/7-Jr. High -- 6:30pm (Youth Wing) Quarterly Business/Prayer Mtg. -- 6:30 pm Bible Institute Classes -- 6:30pm (Lower Level-Adult Classrooms) High School Bible Study -- 6:30pm (Youth Wing) Deacons Meeting -- 6:00 pm (Lower Level-Bob Showers Classroom) Sun., October 19 Missionary Christmas Offering -- All Day Pastor Ron -- AM Service Beacon of Hope Presentation -- Service Mon., October 20 Same As October 6 Wed., October 22. 2 Same As October 1 Fri., October 24 Released Time Class -- 1:00pm (Childrens Wing) Sun., October 26 Pastor Chad -- AM Service Baptism/Membership -- Service Mon., October 27 Same As October 6 Wed., October 29. 2 Same As October 1

03 Nancy Cashen Amber Keilen 04 Dan Halstead Samuel Marcotte 05 Barb Case Monte Ely Don Jones 06 Shellie Walter 07 Vada Halsted Eloise Kay Carrie Miller 08 Kathy Annis 09 Josiah Robbe 10 Elijah Becker Grayson Ordway 12 Chuck Blink Janice Crowell Caleb Robbe Ashton Sheen 13 Mary Poling 14 Michael Knaus 15 Trisha Feldpausch 16 Nita Carpenter Melvin Crowell 17 Rachel Becker Fran Nelson Norm Sanford Aaron Stine Neil Stump 18 LuAnn Carlisle Lydia Cyrus 19 Peggy Foster 20 Elise Morse 22 Sharon Ashenfelter Joyce Worthington 23 Ayla Holben 24 Leah Deemer Caden Fore 25 Bob Worthington 26 Marc Hufnagel Pam Snyder 27 Ted Loznak 28 Megan Ely Katie Mullikin Cindy Painter 29 Keith Irish Sheila Robbe 30 Joseph Marcotte Brayden Schmidtmann Nathan Stump 31 Rick Hopkins

SCHEDULES FOR OCTOBER NURSERY 01 Awana Carolyn Henning, Jen S, SuAnn Prince 05 SS Lori Knaus, Karen Ramsay AM Trisha Feldpausch, Sarah Snyder, Morgan Morse, Linda Kresge Cheryl Haviland, Annette Peterson 08 Awana Carolyn Henning, Jen S, Lori Knaus 12 SS Helen Kresge, Sarah Thomas AM Sarah Thomas, Michelle Hyzer, Hannah Robbe, Linda Kresge Deb Galloway, Valorie Iung, Ellen Kresge 15 Awana Carolyn Henning, Lori Knaus, Sue Bishop 19 SS Becky Becker, Lisa Crandall AM Debi Davis, Emily Brun, Pearl Nichols, Linda Kresge Holly Merignac, Kay Schmidtmann, April Mullikin 22 Awana Carolyn Henning, Michelle, Hyzer, Seeking Volunteer 26 SS Bernadette Richardson, Annette Wood AM Pat Lutz, Michellette Richardson, Bethany Marcotte, Linda Kresge Grace King, Dawn Benson 29 Awana Carolyn Henning, Eileen Feldpausch, SuAnn Prince TODDLERS 05 AM Patti Jo Nichols, Michelle Rosendale, Hannah Marcotte Carrie Miller, Lori Knaus 12 AM Pamarie Nichols, Eileen & Natalie Feldpausch Darlene Dutcher, Laurie Ordway 19 AM Yvonne Sischo, Sarah Bouck, Rebekah Painter Davey & Katie Fore, Anna Ordway 26 AM Cathy McCune, Marcia TODDLER COOKIES 05 Holly Merignac 12 Sharon Moinet 19 Cindy Painter 26 Cheryl Haviland Feldpausch, Leah Robbe Cassie Sischo, Katie Sawyer, Sarah Wood USHERS 05 AM *John Leif, Jeremy Thomas, Jason Holben, Jim Cyrus, Brad Kresge, Roger Crowell *John Glerum, Walt Knaus, Ted Loznak, Austin Davis 12 AM *Scott McCorvie, Derrick Ostrander, Andrew Davis, Phil Burkhart, Duane *Captain Schafer, Brian Mead *Jim Ashenfelter, Nick Bancroft 19 AM *Julius Motz, Heath Miller, Shane Kidd, Mark Lutz, Rick Davis, Bill Richards *Louie Simon, Dean Feldpausch, Joel Hopkins 26 AM *Tim Fair, David Cook, Chris Bouck, Harold Lichte, William Kidd, Ryan Shackelford Dell Schmidtmann, Doug Merignac, Dave Halfman GREETERS 05 Foyer Ron & Jill Keilen Office Todd & Mishelle Pagels West Tom & MB Moldenhauer 12 Foyer Bryan & Trisha Feldpausch Office Bill & Sharon Kidd West Chris & Sarah Bouck 19 Foyer Mike & Tammy Underwood Office Jay & Becky Peterson West AM-Evelyn Peterson -Diana VanOrsdol 26 Foyer Roger & Rosanne Schafer Office Gary & Pam Snyder West Sharon Ashenfelter Everyone Greets in the Service